Simple Faith Christian

Luke 6:44-45 (NKJV)

“For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil ^[a]treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

          Did you ever try to plant a garden and had to figure out when to put the plants in, what to add to the soil, and how often you should water it? How about passing the freshly plowed fields in spring and watching over time if anything grows? Maybe you took a hike to your favorite wild berry patch and had to wander around to locate any ripe fruit?

          We all have our own experiences when it comes to plants or gardens. We could live or work on a farm, have an area near our home we plant every spring, or it could just be the potted plants we have in our home or at the office. There may be some of us that never even attempted to grow anything.

          When it comes to planting a garden, we should at least all know our limitations. I have known those people who have that touch and can grow anything they try to, while there are some of us who were born with two brown thumbs and seem to kill any live plant we are given.

But every experience does not always equal success. I could be a county fair prize winning grower and still end up with shriveled up plants and no entry the next year. I could also be the person who kills everything and then finally gets it right to have the most beautiful garden on the block.

          The biggest differences comes from how we tend our gardens. Those who take the time and have patience usually have more success. You can buy one of those all in one kits where everything is included for that herb garden for your window. But what happens the longer you keep it after all the nutrients are gone? These are the further instructions we did not bother to read and now your instructions can’t be found.

          We see the people with the most successful gardens or farms out there putting in the work. Pulling the weeds, breaking up the soil, and adding the nutrients that the plants need. Many of us have experienced the smell of a farmer prepping their field for planting, it is unmistakable. They know that missing that step may not bring the crop yield they are planning for.

          This is much like our lives. If we honestly look at any area of our life, we can see where we are successful and the areas that may need some improvement. I said honest look, because most people do not like to admit if they are slacking in a certain area or may have finally qualified for the professional procrastinator league.

This is also true of the people around us. They come in all shapes and sizes and are on multiple levels in the different areas of their lives. Looking at them, we may or may not be able to tell who they are as a person. Unless you really know them, they could be as we are, they are not completely real and are faking it until they make it.

This is like many of our spiritual lives. I have been and know plenty of professed Christians who are not what they seem. We can be like the pharisees that Jesus called whitewashed tombs. All nice on the outside with dried up bones on the inside. Or we can also be like the fig tree Jesus cursed, looking all green and healthy, but producing no fruit.

There may be many people who do not know what the fruits of the spirit are or where they come from. We find the fruit in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” These are all virtues or things people might say about our character. If people saw how we live, would they use any of these words to describe us?

When we believe in the salvation and follow Christ we produce these fruits of the spirit. John 15:4-5explains this better, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

          When we live how Christ showed us in the Gospels, we are connected to Him and the Spirit just as it explains that the branch is connected to the vine. This is why we need to be aware of everything we do and do it to the glory of God. We are not only honoring Him, but we are also honoring the life He has given us. Thanking Him for all the blessings in our lives, starting with the breath in our lungs.

           In the opening scripture it says that each tree is known by its fruit. Each of us is known by the fruit we produce as in Matthew 7:17-18, “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” With every interaction others see this fruit and can be affected by it.

          So, look in the mirror and examine your life to see what type of fruit you are bearing. After our self-critique, ask others around you what they see. Make sure to ask those who will be honest with you. This is how we can find out what others see and know better if we are leading a life that is pleasing and honoring to God. Remember, no matter the feedback we get, we must still stay connected with the vine and nurture our lives with His word.

LET YOUR FRUIT BLOSSOM FOR ALL TO SEE

I watch the branches wither on the tree outside my door,
Death that is slowly changing something that was so alive before.

With all this happening because there was no care that was given,
No water, food, or nurturing to make sure it went on livin.

With all the neglect the blossoms don’t mature and fall to the ground,
Their dried remnants may hang on but no fruit is there to be found.

From the falling leaves on dying branches, to the withering of the vine
Lord, with all that you have created how can there be such a decline?

My child, I provide all that is needed to prevent this neglect,
But sadly from all the actions of man I cannot always protect.

Like the gifts you were given that you don’t nurture from the root,
You may spend your days wondering aimlessly not bearing any fruit.

You frequently find food in my scriptures and not let it absorb,
It’s like rain falling on hard ground that just runs off to the curb.

Remove all that is hindering and preventing you from growing
Let Your Fruit Blossom For All To See, with your love for me showing.

Simple Faith Christian

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